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The next time a disgruntled customer complains about your business, thank him or her for giving you information that you can use to improve your company, recommends Marilyn Suttle. Try to stay calm, and ask what you can do to rectify the situation. "When a customer puts pressure on you, see it as a good way for you to grow your abilities," she writes.

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Employees bring strengths and skills to their jobs, and it's vital to keep these unique characteristics in mind as you seek to build a cohesive team, writes Victor Hwang, CEO of T2 Venture Capital. Establishing trust is critical, and this requires building bonds among members of your internal team as well as between your company and its suppliers.

Giving away your product or service for free can help customers immediately grasp the value of your product, Lee Polevoi writes. In addition, some customers feel obliged to buy from you in the future if you give them something for free. When planning a giveaway, start with a goal in mind. "The best freebie is one that costs you little or nothing to produce but delivers measurable results," Polevoi writes.

If your e-mail sales pitches lack specificity, don't explain the value you're offering and force the recipient to guess at who your mutual contacts are, they could be ignored, writes Ryan Estis. "Be helpful. Focus on the customer. The customer will only be interested in your product or service because it could help them," he writes.

In addition to competitive salaries, talented employees are also looking for companies that offer flexible working arrangements and training programs that can help them to develop their skills. They will also gravitate toward employees who recognize their contributions and give them an opportunity to give back to the community.

If online privacy is important to you, switch to the anonymous search engine Duck Duck Go and use Cryptocat to send messages, recommends Simon Black. Also, consider getting Silent Circle, which allows for encrypted e-mails and text messaging, among other services.